HEALTH

Anaemia rampant among expecting mothers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1
Despite anaemia being a major health problem the world over, a study conducted in the Naraingarh area of Ambala district by the PGI, reveals that 92 per cent women are suffering from the disease as their diet mainly comprises of low iron foods.

The study was conducted in four villages near Naraingarh in Ambala district of Haryana by the Community Medicine Department, PGI. Even though iron tablets were readily available at the health sub-centre in the area, consumption and compliance was found to be extremely poor.

“Studies have shown that with the North Indian diet being more cereal-based, there was higher prevalence of anaemia than in the southern states, where there is high consumption of fish and other iron-rich foods,” explained Dr Arun K. Aggarwal, Assistant Professor, Community Medicine.

The study indicated that there was high prevalence of anaemia, especially among pregnant women.

As per the national nutritional anaemia prophylaxis and control programme, pregnant woman should take at least 100 iron tablets during pregnancy and in case she is anaemic, she should take double this number.

“During the study in Naraingarh villages a mere 24 per cent women had taken 90 tablets, even though they were readily available at the health centre”, said Dr Aggarwal.

It was felt that there was a need to educate villagers about the causes, consequences and prevention of anaemia.

“Another misconception among the villagers, especially women, was that taking iron supplements led to some adverse effect in the body,” pointed out field workers.

It was found that knowledge about anaemia and the problems arising out of it were known to a larger number of women than men.

“We strongly feel that the main objective of the future health programmes should be to bridge the gender gap so that men realise that anaemia can lead to a number of problems and complications, especially during pregnancy.”

In many cases it was found that due to delay in identification of anaemia, a lot of complications developed. These complications included miscarriage, still birth and underweight babies.

The study has recommended that apart from educating villagers about local foods like jaggery, which could be a rich-iron supplement, women needed to be told about strict compliance of iron supplements.

SPORTS

CISF (Red) win hockey title
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 1
CISF (Red) won the First Olympian Dharam Singh Memorial Six-a-Side Hockey Tournament which concluded at the Sector 18 hockey stadium this evening. They outplayed Wanders Club 9-5. The half-time score was 3-1 in favour of the CISF (Red) team. Inderjeet Singh Chadha of the Wanders club was, however, the best player of the tournament. He scored 32 goals in the tournament. Spectators cheered for both teams whenever a goal has scored by them. The floodlights added charm to the final which saw international hockey players Inderjeet Chadha and Rajpal Singh, and reputed players like Cyril Ekka and Parvez making the action-packed match more interesting. There was a lot of enthusiasm among the players.

For winners, Parvez scored five goals while Cyril, Irfan, Harish and S.K. Khan scored one goal each. For losers, Inderjeet scored two goals while Jasbir. Navdeep, Rajpal scored one goal each.

Badminton meet

The ninth District Badminton championship began at the Sector 3 sports complex, Panchkula, on Friday morning. The tournament has evoked a massive response as nearly 160 entries have been received in various age groups.

On the basis of performance of Panchkula district players, teams will be selected for junior and senior Haryana state badminton championships to be held at Yamunanagar and Gurgaon from August 7 and August 21, respectively.

The results: boys (under-19, category) Adhiraj Neogi b Navneet, 15-0,15-0; boys (under-16 category) — Prateek Mittal b Dhruv, 15-3,15-2; Arjun b Nishant 15-3,15-6; Mohit b Ankush 15-2,15-13; Sanchit b Varinder, 15-0,15-0; Robin Garg b Karan 15-2,15-3,15-14; Saurav b Mohit, 15-0,15-0; Sanchit b Arjun, 15-4,15-0; Bhavesh b Ratnesh 15-0,15-3; Rasik b Vikram, 15-1,15-3; boys (under-19) category — Varun b Harsh, 15-3,15-1.

Girls (under-10 category) — Kannu Aggarwal b Seema, 11-0,11-0; Palak b Jasmine, 11-0,11-0; Ushi b Jagriti 11-0,11-3; girls (under-13 category) — Surbhi b Yunika, 11-1,11-1; Mohini b Neha Sharma, 11-0, 11-0; Kannu b Jyoti 11-1,11-2; Muskan b Kratika,11-3,11-2; Pallavi b Swati, 11-0, 11-0; Shivani b Jyoti, 11-4,11-2; Risha b Neha,11-8,11-1. IInd round — Pallavi b Swakriti, 11-0,11-0; girls (under-19) category —Kannu b Vaneeta 11-0,11-1; Geetu b Nidhi 11-0,11-0 Boys (under-16 category) — (3rd round) Saurav b Robin Garg, 15-1,15-0; Prerak Sharma b Mohit 15-4,15-12; Rasik b Nitin, 15-0,15-1. In the boys under-19 category, those who made it to the second round were, Mohit, Prabhla, Anshul. In the under-13 category the winners of the first round were, Mohit Mahajan, Manik, Abhishek, Akshit Mahajan, Raghav, Rythem, Priyank Sood, Dhruv, Sumit Aggarwal, Rasik,Dhruv, Prateek, Prerak, Anshul and Bhanu.

ADMINISTRATION

MC to form 3 new subcommittees
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 1
At least three subcommittees on finance, building and public works and sanitation and water distribution, will be formed during the second meeting of the municipal council here on August 5.

The 29-point agenda of the meeting has already been sent to the councillors, MLA Chander Mohan and local MP, Rattan Lal Kataria. Most of the items on the agenda relate to better sanitation and beautification of the township within the civic body limits. Discussions will be held on beautifying and cleaning up the entry points to Panchkula.

The issue of maintenance of public parks after they are formally transferred from the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to the council, will also be discussed. Subcommittees for maintenance of these public parks will also be formed at the meeting.

Other important items on the agenda include setting up a district library and an old age home. The proposal of constructing a railway overbridge at Mansa Devi Complex, which was turned down by councillors in the last meeting, has again been included in the agenda. It may be noted that Mr Abhey Chautala, son of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, had asked the council to pass a resolution for construction of an overbridge during his tour of Panchkula last month.